Abstract [en]

High reliability is essential for hydropower plants in order to produce electricity to the people and the industry whenever needed. All technical systems are exposed to deterioration, which can lead to failure or even disaster in the form of production losses if maintenance has not been accomplished. The motives of maintenance and inspections of the technical systems condition are to discover deterioration in time and prevent failure and damage. Though, maintenance can be costly and due to the low energy prices power producing companies need to optimize maintenance in order to lower the costs and in the same time retain the demanded high reliability. The aim of this Master Thesis has been to investigate the option to develop a risk- based maintenance plan for a turbine at Finnfors power plant. We have concluded that condition based maintenance is a method that is adequate for the purpose. SINTEF Energy Norway AS has created a tool that estimates life-curves of individual components and compares different maintenance strategies by net present value evaluation. The outcome of this work is a pilot study of an implementation of this tool and thereby risk-based approach within decision- making processes of maintenance planning.